Suspension extended for Warsaw attorney guilty of fraud, theft

Indiana Supreme Court justices on Monday indefinitely suspended a Warsaw attorney who earlier this month pleaded guilty to multiple fraud and theft charges and agreed to repay more than $51,000 to his former law firm, clients and a bank.

Justices indefinitely suspended Kosciusko County attorney Scott J. Lennox, effective immediately, after finding that 90 days had passed since his suspension for noncooperation with the disciplinary process.

The discipline case arose after Lennox was accused of stealing thousands from his law firm’s trust and operating accounts.

Lennox, 51, pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of Level 5 felony fraud on a financial institution and six counts of Level 6 felony theft arising from a case investigated by Warsaw police after money entrusted to the firm went missing. That case is State of Indiana v. Scott J. Lennox, 43C01-1904-F5-291.

Under terms of a plea agreement, Lennox was sentenced to seven years suspended to probation. He agreed to make restitution to clients through a surrogate attorney in the amount of $34,481. He also agreed to restitution to his former firm partners in the amount of $14,620, and $1,986 to Lake City Bank.

In November 2019, Lennox was suspended from the practice of law for failing to cooperate with an Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission investigation concerning four grievances filed against him. Although the contents of the four grievances against Lennox were not disclosed, Lennox had been charged in April 2019.

Under terms of his plea agreement approved earlier this month by a special judge in Kosciusko Circuit Court, Lennox will be released from probation at the time full restitution is made, and no further charges will be filed against him in this case. Lennox also may file for an expungement after full restitution is made.

According to online court records through March 18, Lennox had made restitution at least to his former firm and the bank.

The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission moved to convert Lennox’s suspension to an indefinite suspension from the practice of law pursuant to Admission and Discipline Rule 23(10.1)(c)(4). Lennox failed to respond to the commission’s motion to convert his current suspension, prompting the high court to issue the indefinite suspension order Monday. 

“Respondent is ordered to fulfill the continuing duties of a suspended attorney under Admission and Discipline Rule 23(26). To be readmitted to the practice of law in this State, Respondent must cure the causes of all suspensions in effect and successfully petition this Court for reinstatement pursuant to Admission and Discipline Rule 23(18)(b),” Chief Justice Loretta Rush wrote in the unanimous order.

The discipline case is In the Matter of: Scott J. Lennox, 19S-DI-448, -449, -450, -451.